$300 Million In Silver Found In Shipwreck

U.S. treasure hunters have found a World War II shipwreck containing an estimated $230 million in silver, the largest cache of precious-metal booty ever, the BBC reports.A German submarine torpedoed the British cargo ship SS Gairsoppa about 300 miles off the coast of Ireland on Feb. 17, 1941. The 1919 steamship was hauling 219 tons of silver -- 7 million ounces -- of privately held bullion and government-owned coins and ingots, some of which may also contain 2.5% gold, according to documents. The ship was headed to Galway from India. Only one of the 85 crewmembers survived. Using deep sonar and robotics submersibles, Odyssey Marine Exploration found the treasure this summer in more than 14,000 feet of water. Under a contract with the U.K. government, the Tampa-based company will keep 80% of the cargo's value. Recovery work is to begin next spring.